» The Zust (with umlaut) - The Italian Car 1908 NEW YORK PARIS: WE Blog

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And here it is. The Italian Team car was exotic called Zust (with umlaut) although fully Italian. Nothing new because depending in the country you are something will be called exotically to give a sensation of preciseness, good engineering, ever heard the word Pizza? Just a sample.

From some years now i started documenting, do searches and it appeared that the original car was found somewhere in Canada - by the way, this year is anniversary of the Canadian flag - and restored. So in 2007 I decided to take contact even before rescue-supporting Mr Kidby OAM who had decided to do his own Round the World in a Fiat 500 1957 Class. The idea was to network to do a big celebration but I did not received the announced reply. Could be nice network now even if a tad tight in time. Last Minute.

Yet the information I have shows that it would be very unlikely the car went back to Canada since it returned Italy to go again to London, probably seen the editorial agreements to attend another very important Expo on that year. What surely is wrong about this Zust (with umlaut) which would be nice to learn at least it is original, in a barn, is the colour. As per the books but also by the white and black pictures, Grey was the colour - not Red -. You can do the experiment very easily by reading the book at first pages where all cars get ready in Paris, and counter proof by using some basic photo software. It was by instinct something I went to check because… because if the car was red, then the Italian flag would get “Lost” (as we say in Italy) in its red part to describe a visual elegance where a dress colour just does not fit or match by colours. If you observe the original most famous picture (I did a realignment with the building in the background but we don’t know if the car is going a descent or the building is on a slope, ascending or descending) the colour around the metal frame of the engine hood is nearly matching steel grey, the rest of the car. That was the Italian flag is very well evident, and it makes sense. If you transform the old picture to greyscale you can pick the colour from there and apply it to the new Zust (with umlaut) picture. Apart other minor differences such as the front “apron” which was going all the way down and even had side bits probably to further offer defense from the air flow or cold.

Credit for this picture Mr & Ms Blackstaff.

1 user commented in " The Zust (with umlaut) - The Italian Car "

admin said,

in July 28th, 2008 at 7:07 am

Dear Sam Bailey,

I read with interest your post and I share your vision as an expectation, that is joining forces to document once for all this incredible and fairplay Zust (with umlaut)performance at the Race care of the Italian Team on a Italian Car.

Of course I would be happy to discover that the original Race Italian Zust (with umlaut)was the one found in Canada. I would like to add that, as Professor Fate of the WB movie, it is maybe destiny that this Century anniversary comes with the Canada’s flag 30th and many others about International facts, most of all the end of World War I. Realizing the “international ambiance” in still peaceful times could help to inject a bit of optimism in recent dramatic years.

Since 2007 - but even before than that - I had offered to liaise in the US to make sure this would not become a mere commercial speculation but without big results - except my sponsoring the World Wide Tour in a Fiat 500th in its 50th as a spring board event to 2008 -.

I would not see a problem, even if the car would not be gray as Scarfoglio described, as per my direct invitation to be at Concorso Italiano in Monterey (and else) to the owners of this car. It would be a even bigger event if the Thomas Flyer would join and “meet” the Zust again to start make a proper celebration out of it. It is not for speculation I registered the “1908 New York - Paris” and “Zust” (with umlaut) as trademarks. I am in strict contact with the heirs of Antonio Scarfoglio and trustee to republish the rare “round the world in a Motor Car” but the even more rare “Il Giro del Mondo in Automobile” that is a Humanist talk in first person very different than “reporter style” journals sent along the Race.
We could find further more evidence froma very rare binding of Italian newspaper of the time. I would like to extend invitation to you and please note my direct email as paolocodo@trawell.com. Please note there are spam filters for any other reader rather than “1908 New York - Paris” enthusiasts.